New Illinois coach John Groce needs to make quick transition

With Illinois hiring basketball coach John Groce on Thursday and those loaded classes of 2013 and 2014 getting closer to commitments by the day, closing time is around the corner.

John Supinie

CHAMPAIGN -- Like other Illinois recruits, it's time for some speed dating for Springfield Lanphier sophomore Larry Austin Jr.

With Illinois hiring basketball coach John Groce on Thursday and those loaded classes of 2013 and 2014 getting closer to commitments by the day, closing time is around the corner.

"I really don't know coach Groce,'' Austin said Friday on his way to an AAU game with the St. Louis Eagles. "From what I've read, I see that he's a pretty good coach, and he likes to get up and down. Right now, I picture him settling in at Champaign, looking during the next couple weeks at the players (the Illini) already offered.''

The clock is ticking. That makes it imperative for Groce to make a quick transition and begin the process of building relationships with coaches and players.

If the Illini don't take advantage of the talent surge, it could affect the program for years to come.

"At this point, we're going to do our homework and figure out who we're going to go after,'' Groce said. "You can't control how quick the turnaround is. We're going to work really hard to let those kids know about Illinois basketball, what we're trying to do and how they can be a special part of it.''

Players like Austin are watching.

"I would have to gain relationships with coaches at Illinois,'' Austin said. "I'm sure that wouldn't be hard, if that happens.''

He would remain interested with the Illini "if they come in and offer again,'' said Austin, who also has scholarship offers from Bradley, Missouri, Memphis and DePaul.

According to his father, Belleville East junior guard Malcolm Hill, who is ranked No. 50 nationally in his class by Rivals.com, made a commitment to Illinois last fall but is waiting for contact from Groce.

"Hopefully, he gets a chance to know Malcolm,'' said Malcolm Hill Sr. "If he makes an offer, we have to go from there. We're hoping he likes Malcolm as a basketball player and a person. It was an excellent choice my son made. Hopefully, the new coaching staff will reach out to him.''

According to an Internet report, junior guard Jalen James, who plays La Lumiere School in Indiana, said he wanted to stick with his commitment.

Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas said Groce's ability to recruit was a key point in picking the former Ohio coach. As coaches often say, it's the players, not the plays.

"Sometimes we lose sight of the elephant in the room,'' Groce said. "That's the vision to create a consistent standard of excellence that gives us a chance to compete for (Big Ten) championships. When you do that, you start to become a player on the national stage.

"Obviously, Chicago is important. No one is going to say otherwise. St. Louis is important. Indianapolis, with my ties there, is important. Some of the other cities and towns in the state of Illinois, that's important.''

Chicago Simeon junior Jabari Parker is the state's top prospect and ranked second nationally. With the Illini undergoing such change, they would appear as a long shot for Parker, who has expressed an interest to play for a national championship contender. But Parker's father, Sonny, also said he doesn't like flying, so teams in the Midwest -- especially in the same state -- have taken notice.

Named the national recruiter of the year in 2006 by Rivals.com after playing a lead role in landing Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook, Groce shouldn't be underestimated. He used contacts from his brother Travis Steele to build relationships with Oden and Conley, former Indianapolis prep stars.

Illinois will remain the Illini's home territory, but Indianapolis is also home turf for Groce, who grew up in the city's west side suburb of Danville. The trick is getting players from Indiana to play at Illinois. Traditionally, that's been a hard sell. Just ask the Illini about Eric Gordon.

"Indiana is a place where I have relationships,'' Groce said. "Hopefully, I can crack that nut.''

NOTE: According to reports, SMU interviewed Bruce Weber on Thursday for its vacant coaching position in New Orleans.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnSupinie.

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